Student Visa Cost by Country 2026: Fees, Health Charges and Funds

Student Visa Costs by Country in 2026

A student immigration budget usually has three different layers. The application or permit fee is normally a non-refundable government charge. A health cost may be a government surcharge, a mandatory insurance premium, a public-insurance contribution or no fixed immigration charge at all. Proof of funds is different again: it is usually money you must demonstrate access to, not a fee you hand over.

For broader destination research, the country study-cost directory can be used alongside this visa comparison. The figures above should not be converted into a single global ranking because the required periods, treatment of tuition and health systems differ by country.

Visa Fees Are Only One Part of the Upfront Immigration Cost

The application fee is the cleanest number to compare, but even that number needs route context. The United Kingdom charges £558 for the Student route in 2026 [S1]. Canada charges C$150 for a study permit [S4]. Australia’s standard primary Student visa charge rose to A$2,500 on July 1, 2026, while concessions remain for specified groups [S7]. Japan also changed its visa-fee schedule on July 1, 2026, with the single-entry fee moving to approximately ¥15,000, subject to nationality and purpose exceptions [S33].

Some systems split the immigration cost across more than one mandatory payment. A U.S. F-1 or M-1 applicant faces the US$185 visa application fee and, for a new SEVIS record, the US$350 I-901 SEVIS fee [S30] [S31]. Singapore’s higher-education Student’s Pass has a S$45 processing fee and a S$60 issuance fee, with a S$30 Multiple Journey Visa charge only where that visa is required [S38] [S39]. Ireland’s entry-visa fee, where a visa is required, is separate from the immigration registration fee that can arise after arrival.

Health Charges Cannot Be Compared as One Universal Fee

The UK is one of the clearest fixed-charge examples: students pay the Immigration Health Surcharge at £776 per year, although the final amount depends on the length of immigration permission [S3]. Austria also has a useful numeric benchmark, but it is not a visa surcharge: eligible students can use preferential student self-insurance at €78.84 per month in 2026 [S26].

Australia and New Zealand take a different approach. Australia generally requires Overseas Student Health Cover for the duration of the Student visa, but the premium depends on the insurer and policy [S9]. New Zealand requires acceptable medical and travel insurance for the relevant student route, again without one government-set premium in the visa fee [S10]. Finland requires private insurance meeting specified coverage thresholds, while the premium is contract-priced rather than a fixed migration charge [S23].

France, Canada, Japan and South Korea illustrate why a zero in a comparison table would be misleading. France does not impose the old student social-security contribution as a visa health fee; foreign students register for health coverage under the current system [S15]. Canada states that the federal government does not pay foreign students’ medical costs and that health coverage differs by province or territory [S6]. Japan’s National Health Insurance premium varies by income and municipality [S35]. South Korean D-2 students enter the National Health Insurance system, with premiums and eligible reductions determined under that system rather than a single visa premium [S37].

Proof of Funds Is Not the Price of the Visa

Proof-of-funds rules exist to show that a student can finance the stay. They should not be added to the visa fee and described as money spent. In the UK, the maintenance requirement is £1,171 per month outside London or £1,529 per month in London for up to nine months, in addition to outstanding course fees [S2]. Germany’s 2026 blocked-account benchmark is €11,904, although other accepted forms of financial proof may be used [S11].

Canada’s current single-applicant amount outside Quebec is C$22,895 for living expenses, excluding tuition and transportation [S5]. That figure applies to applications on or after September 1, 2025 and was still the published amount when this page was checked on August 27, 2026. IRCC states that the amount is updated annually on September 1, so applications filed on or after September 1, 2026 should be checked against the newly published threshold rather than assuming C$22,895 remains current.

Australia requires a broader financial-capacity picture: the 12-month student living-cost component is A$29,710, and applicable course fees and travel costs are added [S8]. France raised its long-stay student resource threshold for applications submitted from August 1, 2026 to €877.50 per month, equivalent to €10,530 over 12 months [S14]. The Netherlands uses €1,130.77 per month for higher-education students in 2026, excluding tuition [S17].

Some major destinations do not publish one national flat number suitable for a country calculator. U.S. schools document estimated costs and student funding through the Form I-20 process, and students must be able to show necessary funds for tuition and living expenses [S32]. Japan requires financial-support evidence for student status without one universal flat national minimum in the official materials used for this comparison [S34]. South Korea requires proof of financial ability but leaves material details to the visa mission, institution and individual case [S36]. Singapore’s higher-education Student’s Pass application collects financial-support information without publishing one universal funds threshold on the ICA route page [S38].

Major 2026 Changes That Affect Student Visa Planning

These date-sensitive changes are a reason to use an official immigration calculator or authority page immediately before payment. Other study-planning tools are available in the CostToStudy calculators directory.